For today’s challenge, Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has asked us to write about a Scandinavian song and/or performer. This was a no-brainer for me; I couldn’t write about anyone other than the incredible Yngwie Malmsteen. Honestly, for many years I didn’t think there was any better guitarist than Ritchie Blackmore; then I heard Yngwie.
Born in 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden, Yngwie first became known in the 80s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal. In his career of more than 40 years (and still going), Yngwie has released 22 studio albums. In 2009 he was listed in Time magazine as #9 on its list of the 10 best electric guitar players of all time.
Really? There are 8 better guitarists than Yngwie? I wonder who they could be. Well, let’s take a look: in descending order starting with #8 they are – Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, B.B. King, Slash, and Jimi Hendrix. I’ve got issues with this list. And where are Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie Van Halen, Matteo Mancuso, Henrik Freishlader, Tommy Emmanuel, Joe Bonamassa and Guthrie Govan, FFS?
Anyway ….
As a teenager, Yngwie was heavily influenced by classical music, particularly Paganini and Bach. During this time he also discovered his most important guitar influence, Ritchie Blackmore. Yngwie has sad that Hendrix had no musical impact on him and did not contribute to his style but seeing him on TV smashing and burning his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 was “really cool”.
Yngwie Malmsteen has been a member of Steeler, Alcatrazz, Hear ‘n Aid, G3 and is currently with Generation Axe. Addtionally, he has had side projects and made special appearances with many other groups and performers.
In a 2005 issue of Guitar Player magazine, Yngwie Malmsteen discussed his often-ridiculed behavior, saying that, “I’ve probably made more mistakes than anybody. But I don’t dwell on them. I don’t expect people to understand me, because I’m pretty complex, and I think outside the box with everything I do. I’ve always taken the untraveled path. Obviously, people have their opinions, but I can’t get too wrapped up in that, because I know what I can do, and I know what kind of person I am. And I have no control over what anybody says about me. Back in Sweden, I’m ‘Mr Personality’ in the tabloids, but obviously I can’t take that seriously. I know in my heart that if I do the absolute best I can do, maybe ten years from now people may turn around and say, ‘he wasn’t that bad’.”
Let’s get down to business and listen to some Yngwie tracks.
- This is Yngwie Malmsteen playing “Allegro and Adagio” by Paganini with the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra
- While with Alcatrazz, here is “Lost In Hollywood” by Yngwie Malmsteen and Graham Bonnet
- This is a real treat: Yngwie Malmsteen and Dio performing Aerosmith’s “Dream On”
The following is an interview with Yngwie Malmsteen and Rick Beato (the human music encyclopedia).
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